GATHERING MEANS FOR LOOSE MATERIAL PREFERABLY FOR EXCREMENT

Abstract: Collection device for loose material, particularly excrement. According to the invention to this collection device (1) belongs a mantle piece, which have a broader mouth opening end and inner space to receive the material, preferably excrement, and which converges to form an essentially closed tip part, that the mantle piece can be formed from flat storage configuration to funnel-shaped position for use, that there is at least one foldable shutter (10, 11) at the mouth opening end of the mantle piece, to which is associated a pulling means (5), by which the shutter (10, 11) can be turned to close the mouth opening or excrement reception space in order to packet the material, preferably excrement, in the reception space to the collection device (1).

Description: Gathering means for loose material preferably for excrement . The invention relates to a collection device for loose material, preferably excrement. The in- vention relates particularly to immediate collection of dogs' excrement by a disposable col¬ lection device. With the device excrement can be collected and packed from a place requir¬ ing common tidiness, as passageways, yards and parks. Collection of dogs' excrement have during years been tried to solve by various devices. The most common collection devices comprise a small plastic bag to protect the hand, whereby the bag after collection of excrement is turned around and closed. Plastic glove has similar operational principle. Paper bag, into which excrement is lifted by a small plastic shovel, has sometimes been used regardless transportation problems of the soiling shovel. There are also collection devices more rarely used, as a device provided with a metal handle and to which a plastic bag can be set. Special collection bags and assembly boxes are also known before equipped by a separate plate to push the excrement in, and a stick, the lower end of which has a box or plastic bag. The use of such devices for collection of excrement is how¬ ever rather insignificant in spite of continuously growing number of dogs, whereby in cities and densely populated areas the master neglects the collection of his dog's excrement re- gardless people's glances of re-proof. The inability/unwillingness of the masters to solve the excretion problem may partly arise from the fact, that any practical and reasonably-priced excrement collection device has not been available. The object of the present invention is to solve the problems connected with the excrement collection and to provide a novel excrement collection device, which is hygienic and easy to use and enables immediate collection of excrement without any unpleasant feeling. This object will be obtained by the excrement collection device described above, the fea¬ tures of which are presented in the enclosed claims. Advantages of the invention are derived from the fact that the excrement collection device is small in size and flat and therefore easily portable, that the collection device flat in its basic condition can be pressed into a rigid collection funnel shape, that the collection device has a pulling means making possible turning of the shutters in the device without touching them by hand to close the mouth opening, whereby excrement can be hygienically and conven¬ iently packed. The invention will be described in the following as an example by one of its advantageous embodiment with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows as an inside view the excrement collection device according to the invention in the spread-out condition; Figure 2 shows as an oblique forward view the excrement collection device according to the invention, the mouth opening being pressed open, i.e. ready for use; Figure 3 shows the excrement collection device according to the invention in folded condi¬ tion, e.g. for transportation in the pocket; Figure 4 shows the excrement collection device according to the invention after the use when the mouth opening is closed, i.e. the excrement being packed; Figure 5 shows an inside view of another embodiment of the excrement collection device according to the invention in the spread-out condition; and Figure 6 shows the excretion collection device according to the figure 5 ready for use. With reference to figures 1-4 the excrement collection device according the first advanta- geous embodiment of the present invention is described. The collection device comprises a carton cut into wedge like shape or corresponding material element. In this embodiment the broader end of the element has been formed as two arches with essentially same form and size, and also concave arch folds 4 have been formed to the element mainly as mirror images of the arches. Concave folds and convex arches begin and end at the same points, and they additionally define the shutters 10 and 11 folding to the element. In order to make the funnel-shaped excrement collection device of the above-mentioned element, this element has at least one pair of straight fold lines 2a, 2c; 2b, 2d, which extend radially and equally spaced from each other and separating from the element end towards the shutters, whereby one longitudinal edge 12a of the element has an adhesive strip or sur¬ face 9. The narrow point of the wedge like element has been formed so, that when the ele¬ ment is folded along the centre fold line 2c its point is not fully sharp, but a small aperture 7d is formed to it. The element double-folded along the centre fold line 2c is formed into a funnel shape by folding the protruding or as a console formed edge 12a over the other ele- ment edge, whereat it forms a uniting and reinforcing seam. The collection device thus ob¬ tained can be folded along the transversal fold line 3 once again into a storing condition, in which it can easily be inserted into the pocket. As already mentioned above two shutters are used, one of which is the upper shutter 10 and the other the lower shutter 11. Near the upper shutter 19 beside the centre fold 2c there is an aperture 7b. Each shutter arrangement has also apertures 7a and 7b in the upper shutter 10 near the centre part of the curved edge and in the lower shutter near the centre part of the curved fold line 4. The pulling means 5 used to close the shutters 10 and 11 has been selected from a group comprising: wire, strip, glue thread or similar. At the beginning of the pulling wire 5 there is a knot 6. The pulling wire is threaded through the aperture 7a from outside the upper shut¬ ter inside the device 1 and out through the aperture 7b close to the centre fold 2c. The pulling wire returns through the same aperture 7b inside the device leaving a small loop outside the device. Thereafter the pulling wire 5 goes around the edge of the lower shutter outside the device and through the aperture 7c again inside the device, whereafter the pull¬ ing wire goes advantageously under the dust cover 8 towards the aperture 7d at the tip of the device, through which the end of the pulling wire comes out again. Referring to figures 5 and 6 the excrement collection device according to the second em¬ bodiment of the invention will be described. The collection device 1 is composed of a carton cut into a wedge like shape or corresponding material element. In this embodiment the broader end of the element has one arch in the middle and symmetrically shorter arches on both sides. Additional arch folds 4 mainly in compliance with mirror images of the arches have also been formed to the element. Concave folds and convex arches begin and end at the same points. In order to make a funnel-shaped excrement connection device from the above-mentioned element, the element has two straight fold lines 2a and 2c extending radially and equally spaced from each other and separating from the element end towards the shutter, whereby one longitudinal edge 12a of the element has an adhesive 9 surface. Double-folded element is glued as a funnel, when the adhesive 9 edge 12a is pressed tightly against the other edge of the element. The collection device thus obtained can be folded once again e.g. along the transversal fold line shown in figures 1-4 into a storage condition, in which it can conven- iently be inserted into the pocket. As already mentioned above, there are two shutters, one of which comprises a uniform up¬ per shutter 10 and the other a two-piece lower shutter 11 with double centre part. The other part forming the lower shutter has a slash 13 (or aperture 7c as shown in figures 1-3). The pulling means 5 used to close the shutters 10 and 11 has been selected from a group comprising: wire, strip, glue thread or similar. The beginning of the pulling wire 5 has been fixed by a tie or a corresponding to the inner surface of the upper shutter close to the centre of the curved edge of the upper shutter (alternatively it is possible to use a pulling wire having a knot at its end and being threaded through the aperture according to figures 1-4 from outside to inside), wherefrom it goes from inside to outside over the edge of the mouth opening of the mantle piece and further on through the slash 13 or aperture 7c of the slashed or apertured shutter part situating near the outermost part of the shutter, in relation to the end of the mantle piece and again inside the device, whereafter the pulling wire 5 goes between the element edges glued one upon the other to the tip of the device, where the end of the pulling wire comes out again. The collection device according to the invention operates as follows. The flat configuration of the collection device is converted into funnel shape by pressing it lightly at the edges or at the straight fold lines 2a and 2c. By the funnel-shaped mantle piece the excrement laying on the ground is carefully "scooped" and lifted. Due to the configuration of the collection device the converging mantle piece functions as a natural handle and a sufficient distance can be maintained to the excrement to be collected, so that the unpleasant feeling connected with the handling of the excrement will be avoided. Upon collection the range of the contact area to the ground is regulated by the loading of the lower shutter 11, whereby the contact area can be changed from narrow to broad or vice versa only by alteration of the loading, which enables the collection of both soft and hard excrement. When excrement has been collected in through the mouth opening, the mantle piece is lifted up, whereby the excre- ment goes downwards in the funnel. Thereafter the pulling wire 5 visible at the end of the mantle piece is drawn freely by hand so that it first is tightened and either discharged later¬ ally from the holding aperture 7b or is detached from the inner surface of the mantle piece and begins then to move downwards outside the lower shutter 11 over it straightly across the mouth opening to the upper shutter. When the pulling wire is tightened further on, the lower shutter 11 begins first to turn to form a barrier for the mouth opening followed by the upper shutter 10 that begins to turn over the lower shutter. Thus also the lower shutter soiled upon collection of the excrement remains hidden under the clean upper shutter 10. It is recommendable to apply friction material or adhesive on the dust cover 8 or between the edges 12a and 12b glued together to lock the pulling wire and to prevent in this way the re- traction of the pulling wire 5 and inadvertent opening of the shutters. The invention has been described above only as an example. To the person familiar in the field it is obvious that changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the inventive idea defined in the enclosed claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Collection device (1) for loose material, particularly excrement, characterized in that to the collection device (1) belongs a mantle piece, which have a broader mouth opening end and inner space to receive the material, preferably excrement, and which converges to form an essentially closed tip part, that the mantle piece can be formed from flat storage configu¬ ration to funnel-shaped position for use, that there is at least one foldable shutter (10, 11) at the mouth opening end of the mantle piece, to which is associated a pulling means (5), by which the shutter (10, 11) can be turned to close the mouth opening or excrement reception space in order to packet the material, preferably excrement, in the reception space to the collection device (1). 2. Collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the two symmetri¬ cal halves, which have been divided by straight fold lines (2a, 2c; 2b, 2d), of the funnel- shaped mantle piece, which is formed from an element essentially wedge like expanding at its tip, preferably by folding along straight fold lines, has a shutter (10, 11), and that the longitudinal edge (12a) of one half includes a strip placed upon the longitudinal edge part of the other half in the funnel-shaped collection device. 3. Collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that straight fold lines (2a, 2c) divide the element, essentially wedge like expanding at its tip and to be formed as a funnel- shape mantle piece, into three parts, of which the middle part forming one half of the funnel- shaped mantle piece, has one common shutter (1), and of which the outermost parts placed symmetrically on both sides of the middle part form as laid upon each other the other half of the funnel-shaped mantle piece including another shutter (11). 4. Collection device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said other shutter (11) comprises two shutter parts partially placed one upon another preferably in its centre zone. 5. Collection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge of the mouth opening end of both halves of the mantle piece is convexly curved in re¬ lation to the tip of the mantle piece, and that between the ends of straight fold lines (2a, 2c; 2b, 2d) confined to the mouth piece end goes a fold line (4) convexly curving in relation to the tip of the mantle piece, defining a shutter (10, 11) from the mantle piece together with the curved edge of the mouth opening end. 6. Collection device according to any of Claims 1-5, characterized in that the straight fold line (2a, 2c; 2b, 2d) combines with or cuts the curved fold line (4) defining the shutter (10, 11) from said element, made of carton or corresponding material, or extends to the imme- diate vicinity of said curved fold line on the side of the shutter (10, 11), and that the shutters (10, 11) are symmetrically aligned at the mouth opening end of the funnel-shaped mantle piece. 7. Collection device according to any of the Claims 1-6, characterized in that said at least one pulling means (5) belonging to the collection device (1) has been selected from the group comprising: wire, strip, glue thread or similar, and that the pulling means goes from the shutter (10, 11) outside the mantle piece for turning the shutter (10, 11) along the curved fold line (4) to close the space receiving the excrement. 8. Collection device according to any of the Claims 1-7, characterized in that said at least one pulling means (5) belonging to the collection device (1) has been adapted to extend through apertures (7a, 7b, 7c) made to the mantle piece first through one shutter (10) from outside to its inside by the aperture (7a), being secured to it e.g. by a knot, then from inside of the mantle piece near the other straight fold line to outside of the mantle piece through the aperture (7b) and back again through the same aperture, whereby by the aperture (7b), which serves as the means to keep the pulling means aside, can be seen a loop to outside of the mantle piece, to inside of the mantle piece, and then over the edge of the other shutter (11) to outside of the mantle piece, wherefrom the pulling means has been adapted to go through the aperture (7c) again to inside of the mantle piece, whereafter the other end of the pulling means comes out through the aperture (7d) at the tip of the mantle piece. 9. Collection device according to any of the Claims 1-7, characterized in that said at least one pulling means (5) belonging to the collection device (1) has been fixed, preferably with a tie or similar, to the inner surface of one shutter (10) or secured by a knot to the aperture in this shutter, that the pulling means goes from inside of the mantle piece to outside over the edge of the mouth opening and further on to the slash (13) or aperture in the other shutter part of the other shutter comprising two shutter parts, through which aperture the pulling means goes to inside of the collection device (1) and then between the edges (12a, 12b) of the collection device glued together, wherefrom the other end of the pulling means comes out through the aperture (7d) at the tip of the mantle piece. 10. Collection device according to any of Claims 1-9, characterized in that by pulling the pulling means (5) first the shutter (11), which is meant to be the lower one when scooping the excrement from the ground, is turned to close the mouth opening.

Inventors: HAEMYNEN JARI, HAEMYNEN, JARI
Applicants: HAEMYNEN JARI, HAEMYNEN, JARI
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E01H1
IPC codes: E01H1